Assessment of Depression among Adolescents in Juvenile Centres in Kenya: A Case of Kamae Girls Borstal Institute and Kamiti Youth Correctional and Training Centre

Abstract

Major studies on depression among adolescents in juvenile centers have been done widely in developed countries while in Kenya, the study is yet to emerge as a significant research interest to attract sufficient intervention from policy makers. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression among adolescents in selected juvenile centers in Kenya with a focus on two juvenile centers in Nairobi namely, Kamiti Youth Correction and Training Centre (KYCTC) and Kamae Girls Borstal Institute (KGBI). The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of depression in selected juvenile centers in Kenya, to analyze the precipitating factors causing depression among adolescents in selected juvenile centers in Kenya and to assess the relationship between the social demographic factors and depression severity within the selected juvenile centers in Kenya. This study adopted a descriptive research design. The study’s target population was 116 adolescents residing in the two correctional centers. Data was collected physically by the use of questionnaires and later analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study sample comprised of 116 adolescents (boys and girls) from Kamae Girls Borstal Institute and Kamiti Youth Correctional and Training Centre aged from 15 to 21 years of age. The prevalence of depression among the respondents was high at 50.9% indicating that most of the respondents had symptoms of depression and therefore, regular mental health screening and interventions are recommended for adolescents in Juvenile centers.